Tobacco-stemming machine.



Patented Apr. 22,1919.

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C. V. STRICKLAND.

TOBACCO SEMMING MACHINE.

APPucMloN FILED DEc.1.19o5. 1,301,193.

C. V. STRICKLAND.

oAcco STEMMING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 7.1905.

1 ,301 1 93. Patented Apr. 22, 1919.

l0 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

C. V. STRICKLAND.

TOBACCO SEEMMING MACHINE.

APPucAHoN FILED DEC. 1. 1905.

1,301 193. Patented Apr. 22, 1919.

I0 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

1mm L unimi @MPM/.kom

C. V. SRICKLAND.

TOBACCO STEMMING MACHINE.

APPLICMION FILED DEC.1.I905

1 ,301 1 93. Patented Apr. 22, 1919.

l0 SHEETS-SHEET 4,

C. V. STRICKLAND. 10s/accu dswan/mm MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED DEC. 7.|905. 1 ,301,193, Patented Apr. 22, 1919.

l0 SHEETS-SHEET 5:

A 6 M ,3915/ s IIIEI llum nim LlylllA II C. V. STRICKLAND.

TOBACCO STEMMING MACHINE.

APPucAnou mio 050.1. 1905.

1 ,30 1 1 93. Patented Apr. 22, 1919.

10 SHEETS-SHEET 64 @J1/ffm?? mmvabwwv.

C'. V. STRICKLAND.

UBACCO STEMMING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED Dec. I; 1905.

1 ,301 1 93. Patented Apr. 22, 1919.

l0 SHEEI'S-SHEET I. l@ J In, "fhwcbm-m/ jaa.. 9. n PM2@ @au i.; cII-umMzs im W, ad Ua C. V. STRICKLAND.

ToaAcco semmma MACHINE.

Patented Apr. 22,1919.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. I'. |905.

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C. V. STRICKLAND. ToBAcco sEMMlNG MACHINE.

. APPLICATION FILED DEC. 7. i905. l 1,301,193. Patented Apr. 22,1919.

c. v. STRIUKLAND.

TOBACCO STEMMING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC-7.1905.

1,801 1 93. Patented Apr. 22, 1919.

I0 SHEETS-SHEET l0.

, CHARLES V. STBICKLAND, 0F BROOKLYN, YORK.

TOBACCO-STEMMING MA'CHINE.

Specification of Letters Paten-t.

Patented Apr. 22, 1919.

Application led December 7, 1905. Serial No. 290,775.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that I, CHARLES V. S'rnroK- LAND,a citizen of the United States, residing at Brookl n, in the county ofKings and State of ew York, have invented new and useful Improvements inTobacco-Stemming Machines, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improvement in tobacco stemming machineshaving for its main object the production of a machine of greatercapacity and efficiency than has heretofore been known. A further objectis the production of a stemming machine in which the leaves aresubjected to the action ofl stripping mechanism while held by suitablegripping devices engaging the stem butts and in which the leaves aresubjected to a preliminary leaf treatment whereby the stem butts arecleared of laminas by a threshing operation to facilitate the seizure ofthe stems by 4the gripping devices, thereby insuring direct action bythe gripping devices upon the stem butts and avoiding the slippageheretofore encountered when portions y of the lamina of a leaf weregripped between the gripping devices and a stem butt. A further objectis the production of a stemming machine inwhich bundles of leaves arefed to mechanism which operates to separate and space the stem butts anddispose them in a line or plane from which they are forwarded singly andsuccessively to the stripping mechanism whereby leaves are more or lessirregularlv fed to the machine with their stem butts in superposed formor irregular formation and are without manual assistance rearranged in asin le plane or other regular formation and tlgien progressively actedupon by the stripping mechanism in large numbers. A further object isthe production of a stemming machine in which a bundle of leaves isadvanced While lying in a substantially horizontal position, which isthe most convenient for feeding purposes the stem butts being separatedan disposed in a line or plane during the advancing movement, and inwhich the leaves are delivered successively to a f stripping mechanismspaced from the stem butt separating mechanism and turned in transit sothat the leaves reach the stemming mechas,

nism in substantially endent position which is the most effective orstemming purposes. A further object is the production `of a. machine ofthe character just described prou vices.

vided ,with mechanism for interrupting the action of the stem buttseparating mechamsm so that leaves are delivered from the stem buttseparating mechanism only at definite intervals, the purpose of thislmechanism being to translate ,the movement of the leaves past thepreliminary leaf treating mechanism at irregular intervals as thebundles of leaves are fed to the machine, into regular movement atdefinite intervals through the stripping mechanism determined b thespacing of the gripping denother object is the production of a rotarystripping member having a spiral stem-way provided with transversestripping edges, the purpose of this spiral stemway being to cause theactive portion of the stripping member to advance the leaf in strictaccordance with its advancement by the coperating gripping members.Another object is the production of a rotary stripping member having aplurality of axial peripheral ribs and a diminishing spiral stem-wayformed in the ribs the purpose ofv the diminishing spiral stemway beingto more accurately fit the diminishing cross sections of the stem as itis drawn throughsaid stemway during its advancing movement produced bythe gripping members. Another object is the production of a strippingmechanism including a series of stemmer blades and means for moving saidblades to cause them to collectively operate to sever the lamina andminor ribs of a leaf from its stem by a rapid succession of shortstrip-- the strip. With these and other objects not' specicallymentioned in view, the invention consists in certain constructions,combinations, improvements and parts which will be hereinafter fullydescribed and then specifically set forth in the claims hereuntoappended.

In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specificationand in which like characters of reference indicate the same or likeparts, Figure 1 is a general elevation of a device constructed inaccordance with the invention; Fig. 2 is a plan view illustrating adivided trough for separately receiving the completely stripped leavesand those which are onl partially stripped and also the endless carrierfor conveylng the product out of the trough; Fig. 3 is a cross sectionalview taken on the line 3 3 in Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a cross sectional viewtaken on the line 4--1 in Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view takenon the line 5-5 in Fig. 2; Fig. 6 is a detail view on an enlarged scale,in elevation and partly in section, of the means for separating the stembutts, means for forwarding the separated stem butts successively anddelivering them to the carrier element from the separating mechanismturning them in transit; Fig. 7 is a plan view of the threshingmechanlsm forse arating` the lamina from the stem butts; ig. 8 is'across sectional detail view of the feed mechanism and the threshingmechanism showing also the means for holding the leaves on the feedmechanism while the threshing mechanism is in operation; Fig. 9 is adetail sectional view of a part of the feed mechanism; Fig. l0 is anenlarged cross sectional view in elevation of a portion of the carrierelement of the stripping mechanism and the turning carrier whichdelivers leaves thereto, which are illustrated in Fig. 6; Fig. 11 is adetail view of one of the grippers of the carrier and means for openingand closing said grippers; Figs. 12 and 13 are respectively side andfront elevations of the mechanism for separating the stem butts; Fig. 14is a fragmentary view illustrating the delivery of stem butts singlyfrom the separating mechanism to the turning carrier; Fig. 15 is afragmentary detail plan view of the means for interrupting thc action ofthe separating mechanism; Fig. 16 is a fragmentary sectional elevationof the driving means for the separating mechanism and the means forinterrupting the action of the separator; Figs. 16a and 161 are detailviews of a portion of the mechanism shown in 'Fig 16; Fig. 17 is a planView of the gearing for driving the separating mechanism; Figs. 18, 19,2() and 21 are enlarged detail views of the stem clips mounted on theturning carrier; Figs. 22 and 23 are enlarged detail views of thesecondary leaf carrier of the stripping mechanism; Fig. 24 illustratesthe cam for turning the stem clips from the turning carrier; Fig. 25 isa longitudinal sectional view partly diagrammatic of one of the rotarystripping members; Fig. 26 is an end view of the rotary strippingmembers and a diagrammatic indication of the carrier grippers whichcoperatie therewith; Fig. 27 1s a cross sectional view of one of thestripper blades taken on the line 27-27 in Fig. 25; Figs. 28, 29 and 30are respectively cross sectional, side and edge views of the stemsevering blades; Fig. 31 is a cross sectional view taken on the line31-31 in Fig. 25, certain parts being omitted; Fig. 32 is a rear View ofthe machlne illustrating the driving means for the various mechanisms;Fig. 33 is a plan view, partly broken away and partly illustrateddiagrammatically, of the machine illustrated in Fig. 1; Fig. 34 is adetail view of a guide for stem butts cooperating with the feedmechanism; Fig. 35 is a rear end view of the machine largely brokenaway, part sectional and partly diagrammatic; Fig. 36 is a detailsectional view of the means for mounting and driving the brushes beneaththe stemming devices.

In carrying the invention into effect there is rovided a strippingmechanism including suitable gripping devices engaging the stem butts,andl coperating stripping members operating to separate the lamina.lfrom the stems by a rapid succession of short stripping movements alonthe stem, the stripping members being withdrawn from contact with theleaf immediately after action thereon to avoid tearing of the laminaafter it is separated from the stem. In the best constructions, there isalso provided means for threshing the butt ends of the loaves tosoparate the lamina@ from the stem butts for a limited distance in orderto facilitate the action of the grippcrs. Means are also provided forsupporting and advancinga bundle of tobacco leaves and separating thestem butts and disposing them in a line from which they are taken singlyand delivered successively to the stripping mechanism. Means are alsoprovided for advancing a bundle of leaves substantially in horizontalposition, for threshing the butt ends of the leaves, for thereafterseparating the stem butts and disposing them in a line and thenforwarding them to the stripping mechanism and turning them in transitto a substantially pendent position. in which position they are actedupon by the stripping mechanism. Means are also provided forinterrupting the action of the stem butt separating mechanism whenleaves are closely hunched together and for delivering the leaves to thestripping mechanism anregular intervals. There is further provided meanscooperating with the stripping mechanism for severing the stem onlv whena point of pre-determined diameter is reached` so that t eunobjectionable eXtreme tip end of the stem may be left in the strippedlamina. All of the above means and mechanisms may be varied inconstruction within wide limits. The device selected to illustrate theinvention is but one of many possible con` crete embodiments of theinvention.a'nd it 1s to be understood that the invention is not to berestricted to the recise details of the structure shown and escribedspecifically. Moreover, certain larts of the invention are capable ofuse in ependent of other parts, and such independent use iscontemplated.

When tobacco leaves are to be stored for future use, they are made up inwhat is known as hands or bundles, each-bundle being usually tied by asingle leaf Wound around the stem butts of the other leaves of thebundle. They are then packed in hogsheads and held in storage forvarying lengths of time. When such bundles of leaves are to be stemmedprior to manufacture, they are first ordered or softened in the originalbundle form. When in the proper condition the binding leaf is then un-Wound from the stem butts of the other leaves of the bundle and theleaves are individually stemmed. The machine selected to illustrate thepresent invention is designed to support and advance ordered bundles oftobacco leaves after the binding leaf has been removed therefrom, tothresh the lbutt ends of the several leaves of the bundle to separatethe laminas from the stem butts for a limited distance in order to pre`pare them for the action of grippers designed to engage the stem buttsand thereby forward the leaves, to dispose the threshed stem butts in aline and separate them and deliver them singly from such line, to takethe separated stems singly from the separating mechanism and at regularintervals deliver them to a strip ing mechanism Which operates toseparate the major portion of the l-aminac from the stems by a rapidsuccession of short stripping movements and which operates further tosever the stem When a predetermined stem thickness is reached so thatthe unobjectionable part of the stem may remain in the stripped product.The device selected to illustrate the invention is further designed tofeed the leaves initially in substantially horizontal position, whichhas been found the most convenient for this purpose, and to turn theleaves in transit from the'feed mechanism to the stripping mechanism andto strip the leaves While they are in substantially pendent position,which has been found most e'ectivejor this purose. p In the generalview, Fig. 1, the reference character A designates generally the feedmechanism; B the threshingjnechanism; C the stern butt separatingmechanism; D the turning carrier which receives leaves from theseparating mechanism and delivers them to the stripping mechanismturning the leaves in transit; and F the carrier element of thestripping mechanism. y The first operation performed upon the bundle ofleaves by the present machine is that of threshingr the butt ends of theleaves l to separate the lamina` from the stem butts ing a portion ofthe movement.

for a limited distance. While in certain constructions the leaf might beotherwise supported during this operation; as shown, the bundles ofleaves are advanced in irregular formation into the range of action ofthe threshing mechanism by means of a belt l which runs over pulleys 2(see Figs. l and 33). Located along one side of the belt 1 is a stembutt guide 3 having an upstanding Whip rail 4. When a bundle of leavesis received by the operator of the machine, he strikes the butt ends ofthe leaves upon the Whip rail 4, which action serves to loosen theln. Hethen disposes them upon the belt. 1 with their butt ends o-verhangingthe belt and alined by the guide 3 in which position they are advancedin a direction at an langle to their stems. certain constructions beotherwise held against displacement on the feed belt l .during thethreshing operation; as shown, there is provided means coperating withthe advancing means or feed belt for holding the leaves thereuponagainst displacement dur- This holding means includes a pressure belt 6overrunning the belt 1 adjacent its inner edge and adapted to press uponthe leaves against the belt 1 to prevent the threshing means fromdisplacing the leaves or dragging them oil'I of the belt. The belt 6runs over a pair of pulleys 7 suitably supported by a bracket risingfrom the frame of the machine. prevent the holding belt 6 fromdefiecting the upper run of the feed belt l. thrust resisting devices 8are arranged below the upper run of the belt 1 immediately under theWhile the leaves might ini position of the holding belt 6. These thrustv resisting devices consist of a series of rollers 9 (see Figs. 6 and8), mounted upon shafts 10 the axes of Which are normally parallel tothe-surface of the upper run of the feed belt 1. Each of the shafts 10is journaled in a yoke 1l slidably mounted in a bracket 12, whichbracket is suitably supported upon the main frame of the machine. Eachot' the yo-kes 11 is attached to one end of a spring 13, `and. the otherend of the spring is supported b v the bracket 1Q before referred to.rPhe spring mounting of the rollers 9 and coperating parts permits alimited yielding action of the rollers. Moreover. the outer surface 6**of the belt 6 is formed of soft yielding material. such forA instance assponge rubber. It will therefore be readily understood that When thebundle of i leaves is advanced by the feed belt and under the holdingbelt, the devices just described will automatically operate to grip thestems with substantially equal pressure when said stems vary indiameter. It may sometimes happen that two or more stems of a bundlepassing under the holding belt 6 may be superposed and it will befurther understood that yvhcn this occurs the yielding action of theparts just described will permit the advancement of the stems withoutdanger of crushing them.

The threshing mechanism 5 (see Figs. 7 and 8) includes a casing open atthe top and bottom and suitably supported from the main frame of themachine. A stem-way is formed in the side walls of the casing, as isclearly shown in Fig. 8, and through this stem-Way the stem butts whichoverhang the adjacent edge of the feed belt 1 are passed by the feedbelt 1 and the coperating holding belt 6. The threshing mechanismincludes two cooperating series of lails 14,

each flail being movable in an orbital path between and along the stembutts. The iails of each series are pivoted to a rotary member 15 commonto all of the fllails of the series and this member is journaled insuitable bearings formed in the casing before referred to. Each of thecoperating rotary members 15 is driven at high speed and the high speedof the members operates to cause the fiails 14 to be projectedsubstantially radially by the centrifugal force developed by therotating members. By an inspection of Fig. 8 it will be readily seenthat the two series of flails are superposed, one being mounted abovethe stem-way formed in the casing and one below it. The lails, actingupon a bundle of stem butts as the feed belt advances the leaves,operate to straighten and thresh the laminae from said stem butts for ashort distance from the extreme butt end of the leaf. The laminasthreshed from the stem butts falls through the open bottom of the casingand into a chute 16 (see Fig. 2). 'While in certain constructions thefiails, when lails are used, may be otherwise operated; as shown, eachof the rotary members 15 is driven by means of a belt, 96 which derivesits motion from a pulley 97 fixed upon one end of a countershaft 95which shaft is journaled in bearings formed in the ends of bracketsextended from the rear side of the frame of the machine. Thecounter-shaft 95 is further provided with a sprocket 94. A chain 93drives the sprocket 94 and this chain derives its motion from a sprocket92 fixed upon a shaft marked S which extends along the rear side of themachine and which is the main power shaft of the machine. This shaftderives its motion from a belt 91a which runs over fast and loosepulleys of well-known construction and indicated at 91. Belt shiftingmechanism of ordinary construction is provided and includes an openatinghandle 125, a connectingI link 126 and a lever having means engaging thebelt for shlfting it from the fast to the loose pulley and vice versa.

After the butt ends of the leaves have been threshed and the stem buttsstraightened and cleaned of laminas, the feed mechanism ad- Way forleaves advanced by the feed belt and coperating pressure belt and meansfor driving the members of each series at progressively increasingspeeds. lVhile in certain constructions the forwarding members may be ofdifferent form; as shown, each series of forwarding members is madeup-of a plurality of rolls 17, the axes of the rolls of the two seriesbeing staggered. This staggered position of the rolls causes them toform a tortuous stem-way 19, clearly indicated in Fig. 13. It will beseen by an inspection of Fig. 13 that the frame supporting the rolls 17is so arranged with respect to the feed belt 1 and the pressure belt 6,both of which belts are indicated in said figure by broken lines, thatthe separating rolls begin to act upon the stem butts while the leavesare held between the feed belt 1 and the pressure belt 6. It will benoted also that the upper surface of the feed belt 1 lies just below themean plane of the tortuous stemway 19 and that these stems are carriedalternately above and below this mean plane when passing from roll toroll. This action tends, to loosen the leaves which may be mattedtogether, and facilitate the stem butt separating operation. may beprovided with peripheral operating surfaces of a yielding material, suchfor instance as rubber, in order to prevent crushlng and slipping of thestem butts therebetween. .The rolls are driven at progressivelyincreasmg speeds so that the stem butts are separated as they passthrough the stemway. While, in certain constructions, other means may beemployed for driving the rolls; as shown, they derive their motion froma master bevel gear 21 fast on a master shaft 22 suitably journaled inthe frame carrying the rolls. The bevel gear 21 is in mesh with andderives its motion from a bevel pinion 99 which is fast upon a shortshaft also carrying a pulley over which a belt 98 runs. This belt 98also runs over a pulley fast upon the countershaft 95 before referredto. Referring particularly to Figs. 16 and 17, it will be seen that themaster gear shaft 22 carries two gears a and c. From c motion iscommunicated to the rolls toward the entrance of the stem-way 19 by aseries of motion reducing gears as follows: gear c isin mesh with gear don the shaft 20* (see Flg. 16) whereby said shaft is driven. On shaft20, in rear of gear d, is arranged a gear e in mesh with r f on shaft20", thus driving this sha On shaft 20b in lot The rolls front of r f isarranged gear g which meshes Wlth gear k on shaft 20, driving saidshaft. At the rear end of shaft 20c is gear t' Which meshes With gear jon shaft 20d on which is also arranged a ear c which meshes with thegear Z on sha t 20, driving said shaft. On shaft 20 is also arrangedgear m which meshes With gear 'n on shaft 20, driving the latter. Goingnow to those shafts toward the delivery end of the stem- Way 19, thegear a on master gear shaft, 22 meshes with gear o on shaft 20g, drivingsaid shaft. The shaft 20g carries gear p at its rear end, and gear p isin mesh with gear g on shaft 2Oh by which said shaft is driven. Upon theshaft 2Oh is also arran ed gear r which meshes with gear s on sha 20driving the latter.

It Will be readily understood that by the mechanism just described thestern butts are arranged substantially in a line or plane and separatedor spaced so that they can 'be removed from the separator one by one. Upto this point the mechanisms operate to advance leaves as they happen tobe placed upon the feed belt; that is to say, at irregular intervals.The leaves are to be for- Warded from the separating mechanism to thestripping mechanism and there operated upon at regular intervals. Meansare therefore lprovided for interrupting the operation of the separatingmechanism at irregular intervals, and releasing the same for furtheroperation at regular intervals Whenever the stem butts are lying in theseparator stem-Way, and such means is controlled by a stem in thestem-Way. As shown, there `is provided a movable member 23 (see Figs.

12, 13 and 14), Which member is fixed to a rock shaft 24 journaled insuitable bearin formed in the casing of the separating mec anism.Thefree end of this movable member projects into the delivery end of thestem-way and is adapted to be moved by a stem passing through saidstem-Way at this point. When such a movable member is used, operatingconnections including a pawl and ratchet mechanism is employed for thepurpose of interrgpting the operation of the separating mechanism when astem;l reaches the delivery end of the stem- Way and operates themovable member. As shown, the rock shaft 24 is provided with an arm 25(see Fig. 16) having a forked end, and in this forked end is fitted thefree end of an arm 26, the other end of which is journaled upon theshaft 2()a before referred to. The arm 26 carries a pawl 27 adapted toengage a ratchet 28 carried by an adjacent member of the series ofseparator roll shafts. It will be readily understood that when a stempassing through the stem-way reaches the delivery end thereof andoperates the movable member 23, the shaft 24 -will be rocked and saidshaft in turn will rock the arm 25 in engagement with the arm 26. Thearm 26 will therefore be rocked and cause the pawl 27 to engage theratchet 28, thereby interrupting the operation of the separator rolls.It Will of course be understood that When the separator rolls arestopped, the driving belt 98 will slip on its pulleys. `The separatorrolls remain stationary until the leading stem butt which operates themovable member is removed from the separating mechanism.

lVhile in certain construe-tions other means might be employed for thepurpose of releasing the movable member to permit the separator rolls toagain operate; as shown, there is provided a spring 29 interposedbetween the movable member and a iixed block 29a in Which the rock shaft24 moves. When the movable member is operated by a stern to interruptthe operation of the separator as above described, the spring 29 iscompressed, and when the stem is removed m engagement with the movablemember, the spring 29 operates to again project the movable member intothe delivery end of the stem-way where it may again be operated by astem moving through said stem- Way. It will be readily understood thatthis action also rocks the shaft 24 in a reverse .direction and throughthe agency of the arms 25 and 26 disengages the pawl from the ratchet.There is further provided a spring 41a. one end of which is connected toa fixed part of the se arator casing and the other end of Which isconnected to the free end of an arm 41 which. is riveted or otherwisesecured to the arm 26 before described. It will be readily understoodthat when the arm 26 is swung to cause the pawl to engage the ratchet,the spring 41EL will be placed under tension and that when the stem isremoved from engagement with the movable member, the spring 41 willassist the spring 29 in returning the various parts of this pawl andratchet mechanism to their normal positions. Means are provided forreleasing a stem butt from engagement With the movable member 23 butsince this mechanism operates in timed relation with the means forforwarding leaves singly from the se arator mechanism, it Will bedescribe in connection with said forwarding means.

It Will be noted that in the machine selected to illustrate theinvention, the mechanism so far described operates to advance a bundleof leaves, to thresh theJ butt ends of said leaves and to separate thestem butts of said leaves while they are lying in substantiallyhorizontal position. While in certain constructions other meansmay beemployed for removing the leaves singly from .the feed mechanism andstem butt separating mechanism and delivering them successively to astripping mechanism; in the present machine, the stem butts are engagedwhile lying in horizontal position and singly forwarded to a strippingmechanism and turned in transit from the position in which they werereceived to a substantially vertical position, in which pendent positionthey are delivered to the stripping mechanism. This means for forwardingleaves and turning them in transit may be termed a turning carrier andwhen such carrier is used it will be provided with forwarding means anda series of leaf holders mounted in the forwarding means and coperatingmeans for turning the holders in the forwarding means durin theforwarding operation. As shown, t e turning carrler includes a rotatingturret 30 (see Figs. 6 and 10) mounted on and rotated by a shaftjournaled in a bracket rising from the main frame of the machine. Thisshaft carries a bevel gear 108 in mesh with a bevel pinion 106. whichpinion is fast upon a vertical shaft 102 journaled in an extension ofthe bracket supporting the turret shaft and also in a bearing 103 formedin a bracket bolted to the main frame of the machine. The shaft 102carries a Worm Wheel 104 which is operated by a worm 105, the worm beingfast upon the main power shaft S of the machine. The turret 1s providedwith a series of stem clips 31 arranged around and pivotally mounted atthe periphery of said turret. Each of these stem clips includes arocking casting 32 to which is secured a fixed jaw 31al and a movablejaw 31". It may be here remarked that during the operation of therotating turret it is necessary to hold the jaws in closed positionduring a part of the movement of said turret and to hold them in openposition during another part of the movement of said turret. With thisobject in view, each of the holders is provided with tog le mechanismadapted to effect the desired p-urpose. This toggle mechanism includes aspring plunger 33 housed in a cylindrical section of the casting 32 andbearing against a toggle arm 35 which is pivoted to the tail of themovable jaw 31". By an inspection of Figs. 19 and 20. it will be readilyunderstood that `this toggle mechanism operates in a well-known mannerto hold the jaws either in open or closed position dependent on theassage of the toggle pivot over the axial line of the plunger whichintersects the pivotal axis of the movable jaw 31h. For the purpose ofthrowing this toggle mechanism over center from or to open position, thetail of the jaw 31 is provided with a stud 36 the base of which engagesthe forked end of a toggle break lever 44. As any one of the stem clipspasses the delivery end of the separator mechanism where a stem liesready for removal, the stud 36 is operated by means.

in its path to close the jaw after it has engaged a stem butt lying atthe delivery end of the separator mechanism. rThis jaw closure includesa bell-crank lever 37 one arm of which carries an adjustable bowlrunning on the periphery of a cam 38 fast upon the main )owcr shaft Sbefore referred to. The bowl is held to its work in cooperation With thecam 38 by means of a spring 39, one end of which is fast to thebell-crank lever and the other to the casing of the separatingmechanism. The other end of the bell-crank lever constitutes a tripwhich engages the projecting end of the stud 36 and is so positionedthat after the jaws in their open position have encompassed the butt endof the stem. as shown in Fig. 14, the bell-crank lever is operated bythe cam 38 to throw the jaw of the stem clip to closed position in whichit is held by its spring pressed toggle mechanism, thus firmly graspingthe stem butt. The operation of this part of the mechanism is clearlyillustrated in Fig. 14, where one clip is just about to enga e andremove a stem, while the preceding c ip has closed upon and carried awaythe preceding stem. The bell-crank lever 37 carries an adjustableangular arm which, when the bell-crank lever is moved in a reversedirection, engages the arm 41 before described and throws the pawl andratchet mechanism out of action so that the stem butt separatormechanism may resume its operation. While in certain constructions,other means may be employed for turning the stem clips in the rotatingturret to shift the position of the leaves forwarded thereby fromhorizontal to vertical; as shown, there is provided a stationary cam 42for this purpose. This stationary cam is provided with a cam groovechanging from eripheral to sidefaced, as clearly shown 1n Figs. 11 and24. This cam is bolted to the bracket supporting the turret shaft and itsupports, at a point on its periphery over its axis, an abutment 43 lyinin the path of movement of the toggle reak levers 44 before referred to.When any particular stem clip reaches this point. the lever 44 comesinto engagement with the abutment 43 and the jaws of the clip arethereby thrown into open position. It will be understood that thisaction takes place only at the point where the leaf is to be deliveredto the carrier element of the stripping mechanism. The turning action ofthe cam 42 in coperation With the stem clips will be readily understoodby an inspection of Fig. 10 and without further description.

From the turning carrier the leaves are delivered singly andsuccessively tothe stripping mechanism which operates to remove themajor portion of the laminae from the stems. While in certainconstructions other means for retaining the stem in the stemway may beemployed; in the device selected to illustrate the invention, thisstripping mechanism includes means for supporting the stems during thestripping operation and further includes a pair of rotary members eachhaving a plurality of axial peripheral ribs and a spiral stem-way formedin but shallower than said ribs, said members being positioned to causethe ribs to intermesh and the spiral stem-ways to register to form astem retaining stem-Way which extends throughout the length of themembers and is never completely closed. It is to be understood that theterm axial peripheral ribs means ribs mounted on the peripheries of therotary members and having a movement about or relative to the axis ofsaid members. -The stem-way of each rotary member is further providedwith transverse stripping edges and one end of each member is conical inform, its conical end having a spiral groove adapted for guiding a steminto the main stem-way. The ribs of the rotary members are in the formof blades and means are provided for moving the blades to causer them tocollectively operate to separate the major portion of the lamina and theminor ribs of a leaf from its stem by a rapid succession of shortstripping movements along the stem, and for producing a reverse relativemovement of the leaf and each blade immediately' after its strippingmovement to prevent injury to that portion of the lamina previouslyseparated from the stem. The means for supporting the leaf during thestemming operation includes a carrier adapted to engage the butt ends ofthe stems of the leaves and means for producing a relative angularmovement of the rotary members and the carrier whereby the lamina andstem are separated by the stripping edges. As shown, each of the rotarystripping members is substantially cylindrical in formation androtatable u on a substantially horizontal axis. Each o said membersincludes a support for a series of stemmer blades 45 (see Figs. 25 and26), the blades being symmetrically arranged and pivotally supported atthe periphery of the supports. Each blade is provided with a series ofrecesses or stem pockets 48 gradually and regularly diminishing in sizefrom one end of the blade to the other. The pockets 48 of the severalblades mounted in each support are so arranged with respect to eachother that they collectively form a spiral stem-way extending from oneend of the support to the other. The fiat side of each blade adjacentthe stem pockets 48 forms the stripping edge of the blade which is ofcourse transverse to the rim of the stripping member formed by theblade. For the purpose of guiding a stem int-o the stem-Way, one

end of each member is conically formed at 49 and in this conical portionof the support a spiral groove 49"l is cut. The pitch of this groove isthe same as the pitch of the spiral stem-way and where, as in thepresent machine, two such coperating rotary members are employed, thestem of a leaf forwarded by the carrier element of the strippingmechanism is engaged by the coperating spiral grooves 49*t andpositively guided into the spiral stem-way formed by the stem pockets 48of the two rotary members. The supports are keyed upon shafts 50journaled in suitable bearings 85 (see Fig. 33) supported by the frameof the machine. These shafts are driven by a train of gears marked 116and located at the left end of the machine (see Fig. l) and driven by a,spur gear 115 fast upon the main power shaft S before referred to. Theblades 45 are screwed or otherwise fastened to blade holders 51 (seeFig. 25) and each of these blade holders is clamped by means of screws,as clearly shown in Fig. 25, to crank arms 66 journaled in the supportand by means of which the blade is moved or swung in position at theperiphery of the support. The' crank arms 66 carry bowls running in camgrooves 67 of stationary cams 68 surroundin the shaft 50. The cam groove67 is shaped (see Fig. 26) to cause the blades to be projectedsubstantially radially of the support to cause them to collectively'operate to sever the lamina and minor ribs of a leaf from its stem by arapid succession of short stripping movements along the stem and forproducing a reverse relative movement of the leaf and each bladeimmediately after its stripping movement. lIn other words, the bladesare projected radially and act upon the leaf while in this position.Immediately after they have stripped a very short section of the laminafrom the leaf, they are swung backward out of contact with the leaf bythe co-actionl of the crank arm 66 and cam groove 67. This eliminatesdanger of in- Juring the stripped lamina after it has been separatedfrom the stem and while the blade is passing through its orbit, afterhaving performed its function, to again bring it into position foranother operation.

It sometimes happens that as the leaves are fed to the strippingmechanism their tip ends are more or less entangled because the stemforwarding devices are too close togetherlto fully separate the entireleaves. For tlfe purpose of disentangling the leaves in the strippingmechanism when this occurs. there are provided rotating brushes '78,(see Figs. 1 and 36) located below and extending substantially thelength of the rotary These brushes derive their motion from intermeshinggears 118, one of which is fast throughout stripping members.

upon the shaft upon which the brush is mounted; the other being fastupon a short shaft journaled in a sleeve 117 a, Which sleeve is held inposition in a suitable bearing in the main frame of the machine by meansof a set screw 117". The extreme rear end of the shaft carrying the gear118 is provided with an enlarged head pinned to the hub of one ofthegears 116 before referred to. The shafts of the brushes are journaledin arms 117 which are clamped to the sleeve 117a and adjustablethereupon so that they may be swung toward each other to bring thebrushes in close relation to each other.

The eXtreme tip end of the stem is no largeil thanthe minor ribs of theleaf and when the leaves are not exceptionally large, the presence ofthe extreme end of the stem in the stripped product is unobjectionable.Means are provided, therefore, for severiuflr the stem at a point ofpre-determined thickness only. It may be here remarked that the leavesof a bundle or hand of tobacco are not all of the same length and sincethe tobacco is fed to the machine without sorting the leaves to groupthose of the same length, it necessarily follows that a short leaf maybe forwarded through the stripping mechanism between two long leaves.Then this occurs the machine is designed to sever the stem when thepoint of predetermined thickness is reached, irrespective of the lengthof the leaf. In the device selected to illustrate the invention, areciprocating knife which coperates with one of the blades of thestripping members is employed for this purpose. As shown (see Figs. Q5,and 28 to 31), one of the blade holders 51 is provided with a recess inwhich is mounted a reciprocating knife 47 which is provided at its outeredge with a series of recesses 71, the walls of which form shearingedges. The blade 115 with which this knife coperates is provided withsimilar notches adapted to cooperate with the notches of the knife 47 toshear a stem lying in said notches when they are in register. Thesenotches progressively diminish in size from one end of the knifel to theother. It is, however,` to be undertoodthat the knife does not extendthroughout the length of the blade 45, and that portion of the bladewhich does not coperate with the knife 47 is provided with the usualstem pockets 48. The knife 47 is bolted or otherwise secured to a collar73 slidable upon the left end of the cylindrical portion of the crankarm 66 which operates the blade 45 coperating with the knife. The collar37 is engaged by one arm of a forked bell-cranklever 72. This bell-cranklever is fulcrumed upon a suitable pivot mounted in a support for theblades and the other arm of the lever engages a groove 74 formed in astationary cam 7 5 abutting the cam 68 at the left end of the strippingmember. The cam groove 74 is shaped to produce a shearing relativemovement of the knife t7 and coperating blade 15 only at the moment saidblade is 1n engagement with the stem. It will be readily understood thatas the stem is advanced along the stripping member and the strippingmember is rotated, the stem will be carried on past the notches 71unless it is of the proper thickness to enter one of said notches. lVhenthis occurs and the knife is operated, the stem Will be Severed.

The rotary stripping members described are mounted in slides 87 (seeFig. 35) supported by the main frame of the machine. Means are providedfor adjusting these slides toward and away from each other to produce arelative approaching or receding movement of the stripping members forthe purpose of adjusting the said members to operate upon differentgrades of tobacco leaves and to compensate for any inaccuracy ofadjustment of the bearings in which the strippin members rotate. Theslides are frictiona ly held in position by means of friction devices87a operating in suitable shouldered slots in the slides. The slides areconnected and moved by links 88 (see Fig. 33). These links are alsoconnected to the T-head of a vertical shaft 89 mounted in suitablebearings in the main frame. The lower. end of the shaft 89 carries aworm wheel which is in mesh with a worm formed on a shaft extending tothe front of the machine. This shat is rotated by means of the handwheel 90 (see Fig. 35). It Willbe readily understood that rotation ofthe hand wheel 90 results in the rotation of the shaft 89, and throughthe agency of the links 88 these ends of the stripping members are movedtoward and away from each other. At the other end the slides 87 areadjusted by means of screws 86.

While other means moving at an angle to the axis of the strippingmembers may be used in certain constructions for forwarding the leaf tobe stemmed along the stripping members, the present machine includes twocarriers for a leaf to be stemmed arranged in tandem Within the range ofaction of the stripping members, the one delivering the leafautomatically to the other. Both of these carriers are in the form ofchains carrying devices for gripping the stem butt. The turning carrierdelivers the leaves automatically to what may be termed a primaryforwarding chain provided with stem grippers for holding and forwardingthe leaves. This primary forwarding chain automatically delivers theleaves to what may be termed a Secondary forwarding chain, the operatingrun of which overlaps the operating run of the gripper chain, saidsecondary forwarding chain being rovded with clips arranged toautomatica] y seize a leaf stem just before it is released from one ofthe chain grippers and operates to carry the leaf so seized to a pointbeyond the range of action of the gripper chain and to a point beyondthe range of action of the stripping members. The carrier for the leavesto be stripped by the stripping members is generally indicated by thereference character 46. The primary forwarding chain, however, is marked54 and this chain runs over sprockets 54. Mounted in the primary chainis a series of stem butt grippers 53 each adapted to seize the stem buttof a single leaf and forward it into the range of action of the rotarystripping members along said stripping members for a limited distanceand into the range of action of the secondary forwarding chain. Eachgripper 53 consists of jaws pivotally mounted upon a fulcrumed bar 56formin a part of the chain generally indicated y the reference character54. The jaws are normally held lin closed position by the action of abent wire spring 57. Means are provided for positively opening saidgrippers at sepa.

rated points; first at the point where the grippers engage a stem buttto receive it from one of the holders of the turning carrier after thelatter hasjpperated to turn the leaf from its original` horizontalposition to a pendent position.v This action is illustrated in Fig. 10where one of the forwarding chain gri pers has just closed upon the stembutt wlille the turning carrier holder is in osition to be operated tore lease the leafi `The other point at which means are provided foropening the stem grippers is at the other end of the operating run ofthe primary forwarding chain 54; that is, where it runs over the othersprocket 54". As shown, the lower s rocket 54a carries a series ofreciprocatory p ungers 60 and these 'plungers are so located in thesprocket as to be operable upon the tail end of the grippers at the timeit is desired to open and close the same. The plungers are carriedaround by the sprockets and track on stationary cams 59 mounted in theirpath. These cams are formed to move the plungers inwardly, to graduallyopen the grippers as they pass over the lower sprocket, and to suddenlyrelease the grippers successively as they successively come intoposition to seize a stern butt in the turning carrier. The means foreffecting the desired result is clearly shown in Fig. 10. At the end ofthe operating run of the primary forwarding chain the grippers areopened in a different manner. As shown (see Fig. 11), the upper sprocketis provided with oppositely dis-- posed cam surfaces 61 which contactwith the tail ends of the grippers as they successivel pass over thesprockets. It will be readily seen that after any particular gripper haspassed over the upper sprocket and its tails have left the surfaces 61,the gripper will be closed by the action of its spring and will remainclosed until it is again opened by the plungers of the lower sprocket.The

upper sprocket Ais idle and journaled upon a stationary shaft 58asupported in bearings adjustably mounted upon and forming a part of theframe of the machine and extending in a direction at an an'le to theaxis o the rotary stripping mem ers. The lower sprocket 54 is fixed upona shaft mounted in suitable bearings rising from the main frame of themachine and this shaft carries a bevel gear 107a which is in mesh with abevel gear 107, the latter being fast upon. the shaft 102 beforeAreferred to. From this shaft the primary forwarding chain derives itsmotion. It will be readily understood by an inspection of Figs. 1 and 10that the sprockets 54 rotate in vertical planes and that the chain formsa leaf carrier above the stem-way formed in the rotary strippingmembers. As before stated, the primary forwarding chain delivers theleaves to a secondary forwarding chain which is marked 55. This chainruns over sprockets 63 rotatable in planes lying at an angle to theplanes in which the primary chain s rockets rotate. The upper sprocket63 is ast upon the end of a short shaft which is journaled in suitablebearings carried by brackets rising from the left end of the machine(see Figs. 33 and 35). This short shaft carries a spiral gear 112 whichis in mesh. with a second spiral gear 111. The spiral ear 111 is fastupon a shaft 110 extending ownwardly alongside the primary forwardingchain.' Upon its lower end the shaft 110 carries a bevel gear 109, andthis bevel gear is in mesh with the bevel gear 107 before described andfrom which itderives its motion. Each link ofthe secondary forwardingchain 55 is provided with a stem clip 62 (see Figs. 22 and 23). Thesestem clips are made of spring metal screwed to the inner side of thelinks and bent to pass between the link to which it is secured aridthence along the adjacent link where it coacts with a rubber cushion 64countersunk in said adjacent link. By an inspection of Fig. 22 it willbe readily understood that as the secondary chain passes around itslower sprocket 63, the clips are opened and by an inspection of Fig. 1it will be noted that this opening action takes place while stems arebeing advanced by the primary forwarding chain. In Fig. 2 the stems areindicated on their line of travel at this time and it will be readilyunderstood that as the clips of the secondary chain pass around thelower sprocket they move auto- Vas The short shaft upon which the uppersprocket 63 is fast carries a spur gear 114 which gear is in mesh with apinion fast upon a shaft carrying at its other end a rotating brush 77which envages the secondary forwarding chai'n 55 and operates to brushthe stems therefrom as the clips open while the chain passes around theupper sprocket. lVhen the stem is thus released it drops into a chute 76(see Fig. 1), from which it passes to any suitable receptacle not shown.

It sometimes happens that a portion of the leaves in a hand or bundleoperated upon by the machines have broken stems and in this event itwill, of course, follow that when the lamina is stripped from the buttend of the leaf above the break in the stem, the remainder of the stemwill fall below the stem-way with the stripped leaf. To YVkeep suchbroken leaves separated from the properly stripped product in the deviceselected to illustrate the invention, there is arranged below the rotarystripping `members a trough 79, Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive. This trou h isinclined from the horizontal and` its elivery end is in close proximityto a table or other receptacle indicated at 80. The trough is divided intwo eneral parts marked 79 and 79", the part 9* being located adjacentthe table 80. This part 79l is adapted to receive the laminas ofproperly stemmed leaves, while the part 79b is so located that theimperfectly stemmed leaves fall thereinto. In the part 7 9b is located adeflecting plate 81 which is adapted to guide leaves falling thereuponyto one side of the trough. In the part 79a there is located adeflecting plate 82 which is adapted to guide stripped product falling`thereupon t0 the opposite side of the trough. It may sometimes happenthat an unusuallyshort leaf may be perfectly stemmed and yet fall intothe middle of the trough where adjacent. ends of the guide plates 81 and82 meet.`

To prevent such leaf from being guided into that portion of the troughreserved for imperfectly stemmed leaves, there is located]- ust over thetrough-at this point a rotary brush 83 which is adapted to throw anystem or leaf falling thereupon into the proper divion a short shaftwhich carries a pulley driven by a belt 119, which in turn derivesmotion from the countershaft 95 before referred to. The brush 83 isdriven by a belt indicated in full lines in Fig. 35 and by dotted linesin Fig. 31. This belt derives its motion from the pulley 112 beforereferred to.

In view of the foregoing, a detailed description of the operation of thedevice is deemed unnecessary, and is therefore omitted in the interestof brevity.

What is claimed is:

1. In a tobacco stemming machine, the combination with means forsupporting a leaf, of a series of flails, and means' for movging theails in an orbital path and along the leaf stem for threshing the buttof the leaf to separate its lamina from its stem.

2. In a tobacco stemming machine, the combination with means forsupporting a leaf, of a member rotating at high speed, and a series offlails mounted in the member and projected substantially radiallytherefrom by centrifugal force for threshing the butt of the leaflongitudinally thereof to separate its lamina from its stem.

3. In a tobacco stemming machine, the combination with means forsupporting a leaf, of a pair of members located one on either side ofthe leaf butt, means for rotating said members at high speed in oppositedirections, and a series of flails mounted in each member and projectedsubstantially radially therefrom by centrifugal force for threshing thebutt of the leaf longitudinally thereof'to separate its lamina from itsstem.

4. In a tobacco stemming machine, the combination with two coperatingseries of forwarding members separated and arranged to form a stem-wayfor leaves moving in a direction at an angle to their stems, and meansfor driving the members of each series at progressively increasingspeeds. v

5. In a tobacco stemming machine, the combination with two superposedseries of forwarding members separated and arranged to form a stem-wayfor leaves moving in a v

